All the things that truly matter: love, kindness, creativity, beauty, joy.
Father Bix and Jeju Island
I’m experiencing this time as a real retreat. The oneness of the Eucharist unifying all people in a live background stirs me. The signs of resistance and the dancing and singing give life and vibrancy to the Eucharist. What I’m experiencing is a church alive with a bishop calling for resistance. --Father Bill "Bix" Bichsel, Society of Jesus (S.J.) Roman Catholic priest, peace activist, friend of the Kelly Ann Brown Foundation
Upon receiving another grant from KABF in 2013, Fr. Bix exclaimed, “I nearly keeled over!” Full of gratitude and idealistic vision, Bix immediately knew what he’d do to honor Kelly. He booked a ticket to Jeju, a volcanic island off the southern coast of South Korea. With its temperate climate, sandy white beaches, three World Heritage Sites, unique language and culture—it’s a matriarchal society in which the women bring home the bacon as deep sea divers—Jeju Island offers much for tourists to enjoy. But Bix wasn’t called to Jeju as a tourist. Though a tranquil island setting, Jeju’s 20th century history has been anything but peaceful. The Japanese occupation began in 1910, but shifted after World War II, when Russia and the U.S. became the new occupiers. The residents that resisted were killed by the newly established South Korean government, with the infamous rape and slaughter of the locals beginning April 2, 1948 that claimed 30,000 lives (the documentary The Ghosts of Jeju Island addresses the U.S. involvement).
Recently the residents of Jeju have staged ongoing protests with numerous Catholic nuns, a local Catholic bishop, and Jesuit priests—including Fr. Bix front and center—in the opposition to a new and massive naval base construction. The understanding by the locals and all the protesters (which also includes film-maker Oliver Stone) is that this new base is a joint U.S./South Korean operation, with the U.S. keeping a very low profile. Part of this understanding is based on the deep-water structures being built to accommodate a trident nuclear submarine and aircraft carrier, weapons of war that South Korea doesn’t own, but the U.S. does. One of the many fears is that this will be seen as an act of aggression by China, a mere 300 miles away.
Bix describes the spirit of the resistance in Jeju in this post on the Plowshares blog:
“We are living in Gangjeong Village here on Jeju Island and the village life is wonderful. Daily Eucharist and rosary is ended with high spirited Korean dance and song…Fr. Kim had arranged for Gilberto and me to attend the ongoing investigative trials of Brother Park, S.J. (who lives in community with Fr. Kim) and Doctor Song who were being held in jail for their resistance work against the naval base. Great conversations today with two Korean Jesuit Priests each named Kim. This is the most alive and vibrant faith community I’ve ever experienced. Daily Eucharist is the foundation of the ongoing acts of resistance which also occur each day. Everyday priests, nuns and villagers sit in chairs blocking the main gate while the sung Eucharist up the road is being broadcast. After the Mass and rosary there is very vibrant Korean dance that knocks your socks off and fills you with joy. After this there is lively song. This is followed by Korean lunch, kim chi style, that is held in the community meal house that has free and open meals every day. The atmosphere is light and alive with communication. At 7am the day starts with a village lady who leads us in 100 deep, down-on-your-knees bows in front of the gate. Different blocking actions take place in the afternoon. Each order of nuns sends two nuns every week to vigil and resist. They stay in a guest house that is rented by the diocese. Four Jesuits are assigned to full time resistance work. The bishop is fabulous and calls villagers to resistance as well as assigning priests to work for peace."
Read more about Father Bill Bichsel